Chapter 5: The Escape

Subj: RoS: Dungeon: Perfect Strangers
From: dubghall@hotmail.com (Kathye Coyle)

"They said there was wine."

"Shut up about it. Got any sixes?"

"Go fish. And togas. Real togas. Any fours?"

"Shut up! We missed it and there's nothing we can do about it. Go fish. Got any sevens?"

"Go fish. And they had women. Well...*a* woman. And a lion. Any sixes?"

"Go fish. Well, it's your fault we missed it. You insisted that we try to find 'Madame Roxanne's Love Palace', which we never found , and when we got back half of the guards were lost in Sherwood, half were out with hangovers, and we're stuck on guard duty, so SHUT UP! Got any fours?"

"Go fish. And they had..."

"William, if you don't shut up about it, I'm going to..."

"Excuse me, boys," a high pitched voice interrupted them.

The two guardsmen turned around to see a tall, lanky woman walking toward them. A veil covered the lower part of her face and she had long, coarse, ratted hair. Not exactly a vision of loveliness, but she was carrying a wine skin.

"I heard that there was a party going on here, but I seem to have missed it. Would you like some of my wine?"

The two men looked at each other, over their shoulders, and suddenly two cups were thrust into the woman's face.

"Pour!"

*****

"Boy, it's a good thing you brought along some of B.A.'s beddy-bye medicine," the 'woman' said as 'she' turned to her blond companion. 'She' pulled her wig off as 'Lord' Templeton helped to tie up the sleeping guards. "Where did you get this wig, Faceman? It could win the prize as the world's ugliest."

"Hmmm? Oh, I picked it up last year outside some convention in Michigan."

'Lord' Templeton pulled the keys off of one of the guards and tossed them to Murdock, who had removed the dress that he had been wearing over this clothes. "I still think that you look better as a woman."

Murdock ignored him, unlocked the grill and leaned over the edge of the pit. "Kathye, Angie, are you down there?"

"Yes! Thank goodness you've come!", one voice said. "Is *he* here too?", said another.

In response, a rope dropped down into the pit and a figure slid down it. "Of course I came. Did you think I'd let you rot here forever?", the blond man said. He unlocked the manacles of the two women. "But honestly, Angie, why did you pick 12 th century England to hide in?"

"Well, Kathye was already locked up in the dungeon here, and it looked like a safe place."

He turned to the other woman, "And you, isn't this reaction to the holiday season a bit extreme?"

Kathye and Angie started climbing up the while Face turned to the other inhabitants of the dungeon and asked, "Anybody else?"

After everyone who wished to leave had climbed up, they dropped the unconscious guards into the pit and locked the grill. "Come on Murdock, we have to meet Hannibal and B. A. back at *it*." As they led the group away, a voice floated up from the dungeon. "Feet first! It's the only way!"

****

From: Rolf Granlund <RGranlund@ttoledo.com
Subject: RoS: Dungeon: A Stirring in the Mists

After a somewhat long and intense reunion with Marion, I feel another stirring deep within my spirit. It is the call of Herne and I must go and do his bidding.

"Marion, Herne is calling me. I must go and see what muck is running around in Sherwood this time. Rest assured I will return from Herne's cave and take you with me on this adventure." She mumbles something and rolls over to go back to sleep.

Finding myself once more in the presence of Herne he speaks, "My Son, there has been a rip in the fabric of time and reality. Men from a different time have somehow broken through. They are men who are much like yourself. 'Wolfsheads' from their own time. Seek them out as although they mean well, this reality is a fragile thing. Help them if you can."

I leave Herne's cave and return to where Marion is still sleeping. Although tempted to leave her behind for her safety, I do not. I gently prod her awake and speak, "Marion, there is a new game afoot."

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From: Hedgebeast <Hedgebeast@aol.com
Subject: Re: RoS: Dungeon: A Stirring in the Mists

, >"Marion, there is a new game afoot."

"New game afoot?" Marion mutters sleepily. "Twister? Rugby?" Robin frowns. //This rip in the fabric of time must be worse than I thought, // he concludes. //Then again, a good game of rugby would beat the heck out of that hitting-John-over-the-head-with-a-wooden-spoon game we've been playing ... //

*********************************

Subj: RoS: Dungeon: Lost Strangers
From: dubghall@hotmail.com (Kathye Coyle)

"It's this way!"

"No, it's this way!"

"I don't believe this, we're lost!" Angie muttered to Kathye as Face and Murdock continued arguing about which way to go.

"No, it's this way!"

Kathye gave a shrill whistle, startling the two men into silence. "It's this way," as she pointed in a third direction. She started down the corridor and Angie followed behind. Murdock and Face looked at each other, shrugged and trailed after the two women.

********************************************

Subj: RoS: Dungeon: Strange meeting you here
From: dubghall@hotmail.com (Kathye Coyle)

"The way out is through here."

"Kathye, are you sure this time?" asked Angie.

In response, Kathye barged into the room, and then came to a dead stop. Sure enough, the outer door was there. Unfortunately, the Sheriff and several guards were between them and the door. The sheriff looked up at the group in front of him - a well dressed man, a man in a jester's outfit, and two filthy, rotten cabbage encrusted...women?

He raised an eyebrow at them and asked, "Is there a problem here?"

"I knew this plan was going too smoothly!" Murdock murmured to Face.

The blond haired man nodded in agreement before he pushed his way to the front. "My Lord Sheriff, how nice to finally meet you!"

"Aren't you Lord Templeton, Sir Guy's cousin?" The sheriff shook Lord Templeton's hand. "And who are these people with you?"

"Ah, well, hmmm, you see they're, uh, we found them . . ."

"We don't have time for this!" Kathye exclaimed as she picked up the nearest candlestick and whacked the sheriff over the head. Face and Murdock, after a startled look at Kathye, quickly dispatched the rest of the guards. After the Faceman grabbed the Sheriff's sword, he led the way out into the courtyard.

As they tried to walk nonchalantly across the courtyard to the first set of gates, they hear the alarm being raised. "Looks like they found the guards we left in the pit" Murdock said to no-one in particular. They made a mad dash for the the gate as they heard the Sheriff roar "After them, they're getting away, you fools!"

Meanwhile outside the stables, BA and Hannibal were maneuvering *it* into position. As they heard the commotion inside the castle, Hannibal looked over at BA. "Sounds like they're on their way."

*******************************

Subj: RoS: Dungeon: A Strange Freedom
From: dubghall@hotmail.com (Kathye Coyle)

As Face, Murdock, Kathye and Angie ran through the gate several more guards placed themselves in their path. While Kathye and Angie ducked behind some conveniently placed barrels, Murdock and Face engaged the guards in a sword fight. This was made easier by the fact the guards followed the unwritten rule of bad guys: only one of them could attack at a time.

Outside the stables, Hannibal turned to BA, "Sounds like they got held up. Go give them some help."

"Sure thing Hannibal." BA reached over and pulled a strange looking item from beneath *it*. He quickly headed off to help his friends.

Meanwhile, back at the sword fight, even though all the guards were suffering from killer hangovers, things were not going well for our intrepid heroes. (The hangovers only made the guards meaner.) Suddenly an explosive sound filled the courtyard. The stunned guards turned as one to see a dark-skinned man holding a strange device.

There was a flash of light, and another explosive sound filled the courtyard as several guards were mowed down by . . . cabbage.

"BA, it's about time you got here. We were about to be turned into julienne fries." Murdock hollered

"Well, I'm turning these guys into coleslaw."

"BA, that was really funny! I do believe you're developing a sense of humor." Face yelled as he knocked another guard out.

"Where did you get gunpowder in Medieval England?" Murdock yelled as he took out yet another guard.

"I mixed my own."

"BA, you're a genius."

"Don't try to talk your way out of this mess, Faceman. You were supposed to get out of their quiet like."

They dispatched the rest of the guards on the ground. Murdock and Face grabbed Kathye and Angie's hands and pulled them from behind their barrels and ran towards *it*. A hail of arrows rained down around them, missing them completely. The group finally arrived at *it*.

"You have got to be kidding!" Kathye exclaimed. "No way am I getting on that thing."

"Oh, don't worry Kathye." Hannibal said. "We don't actually plan on using *it*." He nodded at Face, who with a reluctant expression, stuck Kathye with a needle and then caught her as she fell.

"Are you going to be okay with this, Angie?" Hannibal asked.

"As long as one of you comes with me. I think I'll be fine." Angie answered as she looked at *it* nervously.

"Murdock, you and Angie go first." Hannibal commanded. "Then, Face, you and Kathye, and finally, BA and myself." He looked at all of them "Are we ready?"

Angie climbed onto *it* and looked around apprehensively. Murdock scampered up and wrapped his arms around her. "It'll be ok. Don't worry."

"Where did you guys get the idea for thiiiiiiiiiiissssss?!?!?!?!" Angie screamed as they were catapulted over the outer walls.

"Cool, they cleared it!" Face murmured as BA glowered at him for maligning his catapult.

"Saw it in a movie once." Murdock said, quickly pulling her out the conveniently placed haystacks as Face and Kathye came over the wall.

Face quickly got himself and Kathye out of the hay and carried her towards the horses that were conveniently waiting for them. (Ed. Note: what would we do with out conveniently placed items?)

They all galloped towards Sherwood Forest and freedom. Murdock asked, "Hey, Hannibal, do you think we'll get to meet Robin Hood?"

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The sheriff stood outside the castle walls watching the cloud of dust in the distance as he heard a voice drift back to him.

"I love it when a rescue plan comes together."

END

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